Floor-clamp.



PATENTED JAN. 27, 1903.

W. HOEKSTRA. FLOOR CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 1062.

N0 MODEL.

W; tn eases THE Noams versus cov. PHOTO-LITHD wAsumcwm n c.

N irttn STATES ATENT FFICE.

FLOOR-CLAN! P.

SZEJQCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,335, dated.January 27, 1903.

Application filed April 26,1902.

J0 all whom, it nutg concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HOEKSTRA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Harrison, in the county of Douglas and State of SouthDakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Floor-Clamps, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a floor clamp or jack; and the object of thesame is to provide a device of this class which may be quickly andeasily secured to rafters, joists, or stringers of various thicknessesfor holding it in position, the improved device including in itsorganization a positively-operating and conveniently-controlled rammeradapted to be forcefully brought against the flooring-strips assuccessively laid to effect a tight jointure of the contiguous edges ofsaid strips.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved jack orclamp shown applied in operative position. Fig. 2 is a transversevertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalvertical section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a supportingframe comprising alongitudinally-extended horizontally-disposed tubular guide 2 and avertical guide 3 at the inner side of the latter, which depends asuitable distance below the under side of said guide 2. Continuing fromthe upper portions of the guides is a clamping-plate at, having spikes5, adapted to be embedded or driven into the upper edge of a joist orstringer. Rising from the opposite sides of the clamping-plate 4 areears 6, between which a pinion 7 and lever 8 are pivotally mounted andcarried by a fulcrum bolt or pin 9, terminally bearing in said ears. Thelever 8 has a catch-dog 10 movably attached thereto and adapted to haveits free end removably engage the teeth 11 of a vertically-disposedclamping rack-bar 12, which Serial No. 104,867. (No model.)

is freely movable through the vertical guide 3, and has a lowerright-angular foot 13 with u pwardly-proj ectin g spikes or spurs 14 totake into the under edge portion of a joist or stringer. Through themedium of the clamping-plate 4 and the foot 13 of the clamping rack-bar12 the improved jack may be firmly secured to a joist or stringer at asuitable distance from the edge of the flooring adapted to be operatedupon by the jack. It will be seen that when the rack-bar 12 has its foot13 brought into close relation with the under edge of a joist orstringer by vibrating the lever 8 and actuating the pinion 7 theadjustment or tight engagement of the rack-bar 12 in relation to thejoist or stringer can be fixed by throwing the catch-dog into engagementwith the teeth of the rack-bar, and thereby prevent the latter fromloosening.

In the guide 2 a rammer is mounted and comprises a shank or stem 15,having rackteeth on the under edge thereof and a ramming-head 16 at oneend. The guide 2 has a slot 17 formed therein, through which projects apinion 18, secured to an operating-1ever 19 and movably mounted on astud 20, projecting outwardly from the guide 3. The pinion 18 is held incontinual mesh with the teeth of the shank or stem 15, and byreciprocating the lever in reverse directions the ramming-head 16 maybebrought into forceful engagement with the adjacent edge of the flooringor flooring-strip or be withdrawn from such engagement.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that theimproved jackembodies a comparatively few number of parts, and the cost ofmanufacture therefore will be reduced to a minimum. Moreover, theimproved device is of a strong and durable nature and can be quicklyapplied to a joist or stringer or removed from the latter.

Changes in the form, proportions, dimensions, and minor details may beresorted to without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, What is claimed as new isl. Afloor-jack, comprising a horizontallydisposed longitudinally-movablerammer, a

said stem and rack-bar, and means for oper ating the said pinions. IO

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM HOEKSTRA.

"erticaily-disposed clamping-bar, means for operating the said rammerand bar, and adevice for locking the bar against movement.

2. A floor-jack, comprising a frame having guides therein, a rammercomprising a stem movable in one of said'guides and formed Witnesses:

with rack-teeth, aclamping rack-bar movable i P. J. VAN HEMERT, in theother guide, pinions for engaging the 1 T. E. VANZEE.

